Warning signal



May 11 1926. 1,584,521

' D. F. EBBERT WARNING SIGNAL Filed August 20, 19725 ATTORNEYS Patented May 11; 1926 UNETEfi STATES DANIEL E. EBBERT, OE WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA.

WARNING srcnnr.

Application filed August 20, 1925.

This invention relates to warning signals for closures and has for its object the provision of a device which will resist closing of a door or drawer of a structure such as an automobile or filing cabinet so that the manipulator of the door will be prematurely warned that the door is near the closing movement so that he may remove his hand if necessary before the door has been shut.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a bridge adapted to be engaged by a closing. door and to which sliding rods are connected and resisted in their movements by springs so that the door may not be closed in the first attempt and in order that the manipulator or other persons may be warned of the proximity of the door to their hands when positioned on the door posts of a vehicle or at the opening of a cabinet or other furniture.

This invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description in view of the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification; nevertheless-it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure being susceptible of such changes and modifications which shall define no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an automobile showing my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of my warning signal.

Fig. 4 is a front view in elevation of a cabinet showing my invention applied thereto.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 1O designates an automobile having a pair of swinging doors 11 and 12 which when in closed position are adapted to have their free edges in engagement with the outer face of a post 13. In this instance the post is cut away at its outer face to provide grooves 1d and 15 and an intermediate rib 16 for separating said grooves. At the outer edge of each groove is located a vertical rib 17 of less thickness than the rib 16.

A bar or bridge 18 is adapted to be seated in either groove 1% or 15 when a door is closed with the free end 19 of said door resting in contact with the said bridge. Each bridge is guided in itsreciprocating movement by rods 20 slidable in passages 21 Serial No. 51,446.

formed in the post 13. Springs 22 mounted in the passages and embracing the rods 20 are engaged at one end by a collar 23 on the rod and at the outer end by the bottom of said passage or socket so that the rods and bridges will be forced outwardly for engagement with the doors before the final closing movement of said doors. The outer end of the socket is provided with shoulders 2 k to prevent displacement of the rods from the sockets. The outer ends 25 of the rods are threaded into perforations in the bridges for securing the rods to said bridges. Any other form of securing means may be employed for the purpose.

The ribs are provided with flanges 26 which ride against a face of the rib 16 and the outer free vertical edges of the doors abut these flanges when the doors are closing and the bridges in cooperation with the said flanges for a seat for the free end 18 of the doors.

As shown in Figure 4c the warning signal of the drawers 27 for resisting the final closing movement of the drawers so that the manipulator is warned by the pressure of the bridge on his hand that further inward movement of the drawer will cause injury to his hand if the hand is engaged over the top of said drawer and caught between the bridge and the edge of the cabinet embracing the passage for the drawer.

The operation of my device is as follows:

When the door of the vehicle or drawer of the cabinet is moved to closed position and the hand of the manipulator or the hand of some other person is on the post 16 of the vehicle or a drawer 27 of the cabinet 28, the door must first come in contact with the bridge 18 or 18 and the springs 22 are of sufficient strength to resist the final closing movement of the door so that a persons hand will be engaged by the bridge without danger of injury and this warning will be sufficient to cause instant withdrawal of the hand. The door may then be closed with additional pressure to overcome the tension of the springs 22.

WVhile I have herein shown and described the preferred form of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I am aware of the fact that the construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be changed by those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit of the invention as indicated by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination of a movable closure and means to resist final closing movement as a warning to the manipulator to prevent injury to a part of the body of the manipulator, said means comprising a bar adapted to be engaged by the closure and resilient means resisting movement of said bar.

2. The combination of a movable closure and means to resist final closing movement as a Warning to the manipulator to prevent in jury to a part of the body of the manipulator, said means comprising a bar adapted to be engaged by the closure and resilient means resisting movement of said bar, and rods connected with the bar for guiding the bar in its movements.

3. The combination of a structure having a closure movable towards the structure, rods slidably mounted in the structure, a bar connected with the rods and guided by said rods, springs resisting movement of the rods and bar, said closure being adapted to engage the bar before final closing movement to check the speed of closing.

4. A warning signal to prevent injury to the hand of a person and comprising a bridge, rods connected to said bridge and forming guides, in combination with a supporting structure having an opening and a closure for said opening, the closure being adapted to engage the bridge, said structure being provided with sockets to receive the guide rods, springs in said sockets and engaging the rods to resist inward movement of the rods and bridge when engaged by the closure for checking the speed of the inward movement of said closure.

DANIEL F. EBBERT. 

